Department profile
Freeths LLP

Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant

UK Guide 2026 : Midlands

Share profile

Freeths LLP

Rankings

About

Provided by Freeths LLP

Our Nottingham, Leicester, Sheffield and Leeds Clinical Negligence team is headed by the nationally rated partner Jane Williams who has over 29 years’ experience conducting high value, complex claims. The team are a pre-eminent force consolidating the firm’s reputation not only as a regional but also national heavyweight. The team continue to excel and expand with Katy Barnett joining on qualification in March this year.

The team are known for their depth and breadth of experience in catastrophic injury claims, delay in diagnosis and misdiagnosis of cancer and other conditions, surgical errors, incorrect treatment and Inquests.

Jane Williams continues to attract high quality instructions cementing the team’s reputation as a leading force in this area as is demonstrated by the work highlights. The team has seen continued growth in their work with a new group action in the last twelve months. The team have received an increasing number of clients as a result of the Maternity Services scandal at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. The claims range from maternal injuries, stillbirths, birth injury claims and neonatal deaths. 

We believe we remain a pre-eminent team in the East Midlands region and leading player in the national field.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant - Midlands

Band 1

What the Team is Known For
Freeths has a long-established team with a notable presence across the East Midlands, offering expert advice on the full spectrum of clinical negligence mandates. The firm has offices across the region, including Derby, Nottingham, Birmingham and Leicester. The team demonstrates significant prowess in group action matters, with additional experience in surgical error, delayed diagnoses, high-value birth injury, issues of medical consent and fatal claims.
View ranking table

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Their communication is excellent and the depth in the team means that there is always someone there to pick things up.

    Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK

  • It's clear when working with the clinical negligence team at Freeths that they truly care about their clients.

    Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK

  • Always very quick to respond and keep me informed at all stages.

    Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK

  • I found all of the team brilliant, not just my lawyer, but all of the support staff.

    Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK

  • The team was just excellent at all levels and their approach was very professional, and we were kept informed and engaged throughout the process.

    Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Paul Balen
    Paul Balen

    Paul Balen

    Consultant Paul Balen has extensive experience in the clinical negligence arena, with mandates ranging from post-operative care to birth-related cases. He often handles alternative dispute resolution proceedings.
    View profile
  • Jane T Williams
    Jane T Williams

    Jane T Williams

    Jane Williams is head of the clinical negligence department for the East Midlands and North East at Freeths. She offers extensive expertise across a range of matters, including delay and misdiagnosis claims, surgical error cases and birth injury claims. She also advises on psychiatric injury claims.

    • She routinely deals with the most complex and sophisticated matters and is an incredibly strong negotiator and advocate who always achieves the best results for her clients.

      Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK

    • Working with Jane was fantastic, I felt comfortable working with her and feel strongly that she did what was best for me as her client.

      Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK

    • Jane is extremely experienced and not afraid to take on difficult cases and gets excellent results and her client care is superlative.

      Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK

    • She is clear and open in her advice and will maintain the direction of forward travel for the client.

      Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK
    View profile
  • Karen Reynolds
    Karen Reynolds

    Karen Reynolds

    Karen Reynolds is head of the firm's clinical negligence department in Derby. She possesses strong expertise in birth injury cases, often involving cerebral palsy, as well as delay and misdiagnosis claims. She also has experience handling group actions.

    • She is extremely experienced and handles a lot of big cases and gets good results, she has a strong established track record in these cases.

      Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK

    • Karen is very approachable, down to earth and very good at building relationships with lawyers and experts, which means she'll explain things well to me.

      Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK
    View profile
  • Gemma Bedford
    Gemma Bedford

    Gemma Bedford

    Gemma Bedford is a managing associate, with experience handling claims stemming from negligently performed surgery, including those relating to informed consent. She also acts on birth and psychiatric injury claims.

    • She has a keen focus on client care and achieving results.

      Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK

    • Gemma is a rising star.

      Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK

    • She is thorough, diligent and hard-working. I enjoy working with her immensely.

      Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK
    View profile
  • Jessica Atkin
    Jessica Atkin

    Jessica Atkin

    Jessica Atkin is a senior associate assisting on a variety of clinical negligence claims. She regularly deals with neurological and maternal negligence claims and has experience assisting on group actions.

    • I felt very safe having her on my team. I know she worked hard with the express aim of getting me everything that I was due.

      Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant respondentUK
    View profile

Ranked Individuals at Freeths LLP (5)

Midlands

Members

Provided by Freeths LLP

Freeths LLP has rankings in the following guides

What success is built on

Chambers is the leading data and intelligence partner for the legal sector.

Explore thought leadership